Thank you for contacting me about trade with Israel.
There are no plans to suspend the UK-Israel Trade and Partnership Agreement or to suspend negotiations on a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Israel. However, the UK will maintain its long-standing foreign policy positions in this FTA, including with respect to the internationally recognised borders of Israel, and will continue to exclude illegal settlements.
On arms exports, all export licence applications are rigorously assessed on a case-by-case basis against the Strategic Export Licensing Criteria, based on the most up-to-date information and analysis available. The Export Control Joint Unit will not issue an export licence to any destination where to do so would be inconsistent with the criteria, including where there is a clear risk that the items might be used to commit or facilitate a serious violation of International Humanitarian Law. The Government is monitoring the situation in Israel and Gaza very closely and will take any action it considers appropriate as the situation develops.
Moreover, while I note your concerns about the importation of goods from the West Bank and other disputed territories, Ministers have been clear to British businesses about the Government's view on the illegality of settlements under international law.
Indeed, under the UK-Israel Trade and Partnership Agreement, only Israeli goods originating from the State of Israel receive tariff preferences. Regarding the ongoing negotiations, the Government’s position is that only Israeli goods originating from the State of Israel will be covered by any FTA.
Thank you again for taking the time to contact me.
Craig Whittaker MP
May 2024